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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Jazz as a book. Cats, birds, and Mongolian military adventures.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
It feels too soon to review this book. I'm giving it three stars for now, but may change that later. I believe I'll have a better understanding after it has had some time to sink in.
As far as basic enjoyment goes, I didn't realize it would be quite so violent. I understand the necessity of it in the narrative, I just didn't expect it going in. If you haven't read it and are considering doing so, it is very graphic.
It's interesting that readers spend so much intimate time with the main character in his head, yet very few of the other characters with whom he interacts ever address him by his first name; indeed, only one character ever addresses him by his first name alone, and only once, as I recall. This decision by the author is an effective technique that increases the sense of distance between the protagonist and his world.
This was well-written, but I preferred 1Q84's story.
It's difficult to assign a star rating. There's plenty of symbolism and some of the prose is beautiful. However, the pacing dragged for me at certain points, and I didn't find the tale as a whole consistently compelling, particularly some of Mamiya's recollections. Comparing Murakami to Murakami, I think 1Q84 is the stronger work.
As far as basic enjoyment goes, I didn't realize it would be quite so violent. I understand the necessity of it in the narrative, I just didn't expect it going in. If you haven't read it and are considering doing so, it is very graphic.
It's interesting that readers spend so much intimate time with the main character in his head, yet very few of the other characters with whom he interacts ever address him by his first name; indeed, only one character ever addresses him by his first name alone, and only once, as I recall. This decision by the author is an effective technique that increases the sense of distance between the protagonist and his world.
This was well-written, but I preferred 1Q84's story.
It's difficult to assign a star rating. There's plenty of symbolism and some of the prose is beautiful. However, the pacing dragged for me at certain points, and I didn't find the tale as a whole consistently compelling, particularly some of Mamiya's recollections. Comparing Murakami to Murakami, I think 1Q84 is the stronger work.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first encountered Murakami in a New Yorker short story in which I was left utterly confused yet extremely intrigued. This book is no different. Though I'm pretty sure I missed most of the story through some kind of callow understanding for life and literature, I enjoyed the parts of the book that I did understand. It wasn't until halfway through the book when I read the blurb on the back on the book that I realized that Murakami was making a point to reveal some aspects of the war in Manchuria during WWII...I suppose I assumed the parts of the story pertaining to the war were just there. Again, I feel no (okay, maybe some) shame in admitting that I had an extremely limited understanding of this book, yet I do know enough to have enjoyed the writing and whatever introspective pieces I was able to glean from this work. Can't say that I was always enthralled by the story-I feel like I was waiting for a climax that bypassed my too-shallow mind but nevertheless another interesting work by Murakami.
Honestly just didn’t care enough to finish it and there are other things I want to read
Not a book that I wouldve picked up myself but im glad i read it, it was so bizzare but interesting throughout